Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 Key findings .................................................................................................................. 4 9.1 Forest cover: international comparisons .............................................................. 5 9.2 Forest area by country .......................................................................................... 7 9.3 Annual changes in forest area .............................................................................. 8 9.4 Forest carbon stocks ............................................................................................ 10 9.5 Wood removals .................................................................................................... 12 9.6 Production of wood products .............................................................................. 15 9.7 Apparent consumption of wood products ............................................................ 18 9.8 World trade in forest products ............................................................................ 21 Introduction

This chapter contains information about world forestry, presenting global figures by region alongside data for the UK and the EU. Topics covered include woodland area, carbon stocks, wood removals, production and apparent consumption of wood products and international trade in forest products.

The data are produced by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

All of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released by the FAO. For further details on revisions, see the International Forestry section of the Sources chapter.

Data for the European Union (EU) relate to all 27 current EU members, excluding the UK, for all of the years shown. Data for Europe cover 26 of the EU members (excluding Cyprus), the Russian Federation and a number of other European countries, including Norway, Switzerland, Serbia and Ukraine.

A copy of all International Forestry tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. Key findings

The main findings are:

- At around 13% forest cover in 2020, the UK is one of the least densely forested countries in Europe. This compares with 46% for Europe as a whole and 31% worldwide.
- The global forest area reduced by around 4.7 million hectares (0.1%) per year between 2010 and 2020.
- Carbon stocks in forest living biomass have increased in Europe, North & Central America and Asia between 1990 and 2020, but have shown an overall decrease at a global level over this period.
- A total of 4.0 billion m$^3$ underbark of wood was removed from global forests in 2018, of which around one half (49%) was for use as woodfuel and the remainder was industrial roundwood (for use by wood processors).
- Global production of wood products in 2018 totalled 492 million m$^3$ of sawnwood, 404 million m$^3$ of wood-based panels and 408 million tonnes of paper & paperboard.
- Europe consumed around one quarter (24%) of all sawnwood, around one fifth (21%) of the world's wood-based panels and almost one quarter (23%) of all paper and paperboard in 2018.
- The UK was the second largest net importer (imports less exports) of forest products in 2018, with net imports of US $8.6 billion. The largest net importer was China. 9.1 Forest cover: international comparisons

The FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) is a collation of forest data undertaken by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) at the global level every five years.

The UK is one of the least densely forested countries in Europe with around 13% of its total land area covered in forest in 2020 (Figure 9.1, Table 9.1). This compares with 46% for Europe as a whole and 31% worldwide.

Figure 9.1 Forest cover as a percentage of total land area: World, 2020

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. Table 9.1 Forest cover as a percentage of total land area: international comparisons, 2020

| Country | Forest area (million ha) | Total land area (million ha) | Forest as % of land area | |------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------| | Europe | | | | | United Kingdom | 3 | 24 | 13 | | Denmark | 1 | 4 | 15 | | Finland | 22 | 30 | 74 | | France | 17 | 55 | 32 | | Germany | 11 | 35 | 33 | | Ireland | 1 | 7 | 11 | | Italy | 10 | 29 | 33 | | Spain | 19 | 50 | 37 | | Sweden | 28 | 41 | 69 | | Other EU | 47 | 124 | 38 | | **Total EU¹** | **159** | **400** | **40** | | Russian Federation | 815 | 1,638 | 50 | | **Total Europe²** | **1,017** | **2,213** | **46** | | Africa | 637 | 2,989 | 21 | | Asia | 623 | 3,109 | 20 | | North & Central America | 753 | 2,133 | 35 | | Oceania | 185 | 849 | 22 | | South America | 844 | 1,746 | 48 | | **World** | **4,059** | **13,039** | **31** |

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020.

Notes:

1. The EU covers 27 member states as at September 2020. This excludes the UK. Cyprus is included in EU total but is part of FAO's Asia region.
2. The Europe region covers 26 EU countries (excluding Cyprus), the UK, the Russian Federation and other countries, including Norway, Switzerland, Serbia and Ukraine.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. 9.2 Forest area by country

Figure 9.2 shows the countries with the largest forest areas. Around one half (49%) of the total forest area of 4,059 million hectares in 2020 is located in four countries (the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada and the USA).

Figure 9.2 Forest area by country, 2020

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. 9.3 Annual changes in forest area

The global forest area has reduced from around 4,128 million hectares in 1990 to 4,059 million hectares in 2020. This represents a decrease of around 7.8 million hectares (0.2%) per year between 1990 and 2000, of around 5.2 million hectares (0.1%) per year between 2000 and 2010 and of around 4.7 million hectares (0.1%) per year between 2010 and 2020 (Table 9.2).

The forest area has reduced in most regions since 1990, except for Europe and Asia (where areas have increased).

Table 9.2 Annual changes in forest area by region, 1990-2020

| Region | 1990-2000 | 2000-2010 | 2010-2020 | |-------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------| | Europe | | | | | UK | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | | EU¹ | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | | Total Europe | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | | Africa | -0.4 | -0.5 | -0.6 | | Asia | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | | North and Central America | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | | Oceania | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.2 | | South America | -0.5 | -0.6 | -0.3 | | World | -0.2 | -0.1 | -0.1 |

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020.

Notes:

1. The EU covers 27 member states as at September 2020. This excludes the UK. Cyprus is included in EU total but is part of FAO’s Asia region.
2. UK figures for 2020 are 2018-based estimates. Revised estimates (from Chapter 1) suggest that Table 9.2 slightly under-estimates the change in forest area in the UK in the most recent time period.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. Between 2010 and 2020, the largest decrease in forest area was in Brazil (1.5 million hectares per year on average) and the largest increase was in China (1.9 million hectares per year on average) (Figure 9.3).

**Figure 9.3 Countries with largest changes in forest area, 2010-2020**

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020.

Notes:

1. Countries with changes of at least 0.3 million hectares per year only.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. 9.4 Forest carbon stocks

Carbon stocks in forest living biomass have increased in Europe and North & Central America between 1990 and 2020, but have shown an overall decrease at a global level over this period (Table 9.3).

The overall decrease has mainly been driven by declines in South America and Africa, where forest areas have decreased. Carbon stocks in biomass also increased slightly in Asia, where carbon sequestered in new plantations has balanced out carbon losses from areas of deforestation.

Table 9.3 Carbon stocks in forest living biomass by region, 1990-2020

| Region | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | |-------------------------------|------|------|------|------|------| | Europe | 45 | 48 | 51 | 53 | 55 | | Africa | 59 | 56 | 54 | 52 | 51 | | Asia | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | | North and Central America | 39 | 40 | 41 | 41 | 42 | | Oceania | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | | South America | 106 | 102 | 98 | 97 | 96 | | **World** | **298** | **296** | **294** | **295** | **295** |

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. Notes:

1. A giga tonne is a thousand million tonnes (10^9 tonnes).

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. Figure 9.4 Forest carbon stock per hectare by region, 2020

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. 9.5 Wood removals

A total of 4.0 billion m$^3$ underbark of wood was removed from global forests in 2018, of which around one half (49%) was for use as woodfuel and the remainder was industrial roundwood (for use by wood processors) (Table 9.4).

North & Central America and Europe together accounted for around three fifths (59%) of all industrial roundwood removals in 2018. Globally, removals of industrial roundwood increased by 11% between 2015 and 2018, resulting from increases in all regions.

Nearly three quarters (73%) of woodfuel removals in 2018 took place in Asia and Africa. Globally, removals of woodfuel increased by 2% between 2015 and 2018.

Table 9.4 Wood removals by region, 1990-2018

| Region | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | |-----------------------------|------|------|------|------|------| | **Industrial roundwood** | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | UK | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | | EU$^1$ | 311 | 335 | 331 | 338 | 378 | | **Total Europe** | 517 | 519 | 533 | 574 | 650 | | Africa | 61 | 71 | 72 | 75 | 79 | | Asia | 268 | 273 | 379 | 403 | 442 | | North & Central America | 595 | 632 | 485 | 516 | 561 | | Oceania | 34 | 47 | 57 | 64 | 77 | | South America | 110 | 147 | 198 | 217 | 248 | | **World** | 1,585| 1,690| 1,723| 1,849| 2,057| | **Woodfuel** | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | UK | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | | EU$^1$ | 67 | 85 | 115 | 120 | 122 | | **Total Europe** | 138 | 109 | 154 | 170 | 180 | | Africa | 445 | 551 | 644 | 679 | 700 | | Region | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |------------------------|------|------|------|------|------| | Asia | 897 | 808 | 764 | 735 | 719 | | North & Central America| 162 | 129 | 129 | 136 | 160 | | Oceania | 9 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | | South America | 162 | 185 | 162 | 171 | 180 | | **World** | **1,814** | **1,795** | **1,863** | **1,902** | **1,948** |

**Total roundwood**

| Region | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |--------|------|------|------|------|------| | Europe | | | | | | | UK | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | | EU¹ | 378 | 420 | 446 | 458 | 500 | | **Total Europe** | **655** | **628** | **687** | **744** | **830** | | Africa | 506 | 623 | 715 | 754 | 779 | | Asia | 1,166| 1,081| 1,144| 1,138| 1,160| | North & Central America | 757 | 761 | 613 | 652 | 721 | | Oceania | 43 | 60 | 68 | 74 | 87 | | South America | 272 | 332 | 359 | 388 | 428 | | **World** | **3,399** | **3,485** | **3,586** | **3,751** | **4,005** |

Source: FAO.

Notes:

1. The EU covers 27 member states as at September 2020. This excludes the UK. Cyprus is included in EU total but is part of FAO's Asia region.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. Figure 9.5 Wood removals by region, 2018

Source: FAO.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. 9.6 Production of wood products

Global production of wood products in 2018 totalled 492 million m$^3$ of sawnwood, 404 million m$^3$ of woodbased panels and 408 million tonnes of paper & paperboard (Table 9.5).

Europe produced around one third (34%) of all sawnwood in 2018 (mainly in EU countries), with over one quarter (29%) in Asia and a further quarter (27%) produced in North & Central America. Overall, sawnwood production increased by 10% between 2015 and 2018, driven by increases in most regions.

Wood-based panels were more commonly produced in Asia, accounting for around three fifths (60%) of global production in 2018. Around one fifth (22%) were produced in Europe (mainly in EU countries) and 12% in North & Central America. At a global level, wood-based panel production increased by 5% between 2015 and 2018, mainly driven by an increase in Europe.

Asia also accounted for almost one half (47%) of paper and paperboard production in 2018, with around one quarter (26%) in Europe and a further 21% in North & Central America. At a global level, paper and paperboard production increased slightly (by 0.4%) between 2015 and 2018.

### Table 9.5 Production of wood products by region, 1990-2018

| Region | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | |-------------------------------|------|------|------|------|------| | **Sawnwood (million m³)** | | | | | | | Europe | | | | | | | UK | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | | EU¹ | 80 | 98 | 98 | 100 | 108 | | **Total Europe** | 149 | 130 | 139 | 149 | 169 | | Africa | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | | Asia | 105 | 61 | 86 | 125 | 141 | | North and Central America | 129 | 146 | 102 | 127 | 135 | | Oceania | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | South America | 22 | 32 | 30 | 26 | 27 | | **World** | 419 | 385 | 376 | 447 | 492 | | **Wood-based panels (million m³)** | | | | | | | Europe | | | | | | | UK | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | EU¹ | 34 | 48 | 53 | 56 | 60 | | **Total Europe** | 48 | 59 | 71 | 79 | 90 | | Africa | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | | Asia | 27 | 46 | 143 | 237 | 241 | | North and Central America | 44 | 61 | 42 | 48 | 48 | | Oceania | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | South America | 4 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 18 | | **World** | 126 | 178 | 275 | 386 | 404 | | **Paper & paperboard (million tonnes)** | | | | | | | Europe | | | | | | | UK | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | EU¹ | 59 | 83 | 91 | 87 | 89 | | **Total Europe** | 74 | 100 | 106 | 104 | 106 | | Region | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |-------------------------|------|------|------|------|------| | Africa | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | | Asia | 57 | 95 | 170 | 192 | 192 | | North and Central America| 92 | 111 | 94 | 89 | 88 | | Oceania | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | South America | 8 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 16 | | **World** | **235** | **325** | **392** | **407** | **408** |

Source: FAO.

Notes:

1. The EU covers 27 member states as at September 2020. This excludes the UK. Cyprus is included in EU total but is part of FAO's Asia region.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. 9.7 Apparent consumption of wood products

Apparent consumption (defined as production + imports - exports) of wood products around the world totalled 486 million m$^3$ sawnwood, 404 million m$^3$ wood-based panels and 408 million tonnes of paper and paperboard in 2018 (Table 9.6).

Two fifths (41%) of all sawnwood in 2018 was consumed in Asia and around one quarter each in North & Central America (26%) and in Europe (24%). Reflecting the increased production of sawnwood (see Table 9.5), apparent consumption of sawnwood increased by 10% overall between 2015 and 2018. This was driven by increases in apparent consumption in most regions.

Asia consumed around three fifths (59%) of the world's wood-based panels in 2018, around one fifth (21%) was consumed in Europe and 14% in North & Central America. Apparent consumption of wood-based panels worldwide increased by 5% between 2015 and 2018, largely resulting from increased demand in Europe.

Nearly one half (49%) of all paper and paperboard in 2018 was consumed in Asia, around one fifth (23%) in Europe and a further one fifth (21%) in North & Central America. At a global level, apparent consumption of paper and paperboard increased by 1% between 2015 and 2018. Table 9.6 Apparent consumption of wood products by region, 1990-2018

| Region | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | |-------------------------------|------|------|------|------|------| | **Sawnwood (million m³)** | | | | | | | Europe | | | | | | | UK | 13 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | | EU-28¹ | 83 | 89 | 82 | 78 | 87 | | **Total Europe** | 158 | 121 | 110 | 106 | 115 | | Africa | 10 | 10 | 17 | 19 | 17 | | Asia | 112 | 78 | 116 | 170 | 197 | | North and Central America | 119 | 143 | 95 | 119 | 128 | | Oceania | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | | South America | 20 | 27 | 26 | 20 | 19 | | **World** | 426 | 387 | 372 | 443 | 486 | | **Wood-based panels (million m³)** | | | | | | | Europe | | | | | | | UK | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | EU-28¹ | 36 | 45 | 48 | 50 | 58 | | **Total Europe** | 52 | 57 | 67 | 73 | 86 | | Africa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | Asia | 25 | 50 | 139 | 233 | 238 | | North and Central America | 44 | 64 | 48 | 56 | 58 | | Oceania | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | South America | 3 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 13 | | **World** | 127 | 181 | 272 | 383 | 404 | | **Paper & paperboard (million tonnes)** | | | | | | | Europe | | | | | | | UK | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | | EU-28¹ | 53 | 72 | 74 | 71 | 73 | | **Total Europe** | 71 | 90 | 95 | 91 | 93 | | Region | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | |-------------------------|----|----|----|----|----| | Africa | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | | Asia | 62 | 103| 178| 198| 200| | North and Central America| 88 | 110| 91 | 86 | 87 | | Oceania | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | | South America | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 17 | | **World** | **236** | **325** | **391** | **404** | **408** |

Source: FAO.

Notes:

1. The EU covers 27 member states as at September 2020. This excludes the UK. Cyprus is included in EU total but is part of FAO's Asia region.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. 9.8 World trade in forest products

Figures 9.6 and 9.7 show the largest net importers and exporters (by value) of forest products in 2018. This covers trade in roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, wood pulp and paper and paperboard, but excludes trade in secondary processed wood (e.g. furniture made from wood). Values are expressed in US dollars (the units reported in the data published by FAO).

The UK was the second largest net importer (imports less exports) of forest products in 2018, with net imports of US $8.6 billion (Figure 9.6). The largest net importer in 2018 was China (US $42.3 billion) and Japan was the third largest net importer (US $7.7 billion).

Figure 9.6 Largest net importers of forest products, 2018

Source: FAO Notes:

1. Excludes trade in secondary wood products.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter. The largest net exporters (exports less imports) of forest products in 2018 were Canada (with net exports valued at US $20.5 billion), Finland (US $13.0 billion) and Sweden (US $11.5 billion) (Figure 9.7).

**Figure 9.7 Largest net exporters of forest products, 2018**

| Country | Value of imports and exports ($billion) | |-------------|----------------------------------------| | Canada | 20.5 | | Finland | 13.0 | | Sweden | 11.5 | | Brazil | 10.0 | | Russia | 10.0 | | Indonesia | 9.0 | | Chile | 5.0 | | New Zealand | 3.0 | | Austria | 3.0 | | Uruguay | 1.0 |

Source: FAO

Notes:

1. Excludes trade in secondary wood products.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. For further information see the Sources chapter.